Secretary of the Party Delegation of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations’(VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga has been elected as VUFO President for the 2013-2018 tenure, winning all 119 approval votes.

VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga

She was elected during the seventh conference of VUFO Presidium for the 2013-2018 tenure in Hanoi on January 10 to review the activities of 2018 and outline future tasks.

Speaking at the event, Nga expressed her gratitude in taking on the position as Secretary of the VUFO’s Party Delegation a month ago.

She said during that time, she has become aware of the position and role of VUFO and its chapters, as well as challenges faced by them, especially amid the complicated developments in the world. She added that she also felt the efforts and passion of its officials and cadres greatly contribute to people-to-people exchange, fostering friendship with people from countries across the world, and expand the network of international friends.

Reporting on the works completed in 2018 and tasks for 2019, VUFO Vice President and General Secretary Don Tuan Phong said the Party’s external relations, and state and people-to-people diplomacy continued to be carried out synchronously, comprehensively, and effectively in 2018. As such, they have thus contributed to firmly safeguarding security, territorial sovereignty, and socio-political stability, alongside creating an environment of peace and stability for economic development.

He said that activities throughout 2018 held better strategic vision than the previous year, focusing on key areas and contributing to strengthening friendship with traditional friends, and comprehensive and strategic partners of Vietnam.

Further attention was paid to pooling foreign non-governmental assistance, with the national programme on foreign aid mobilisation for the 2018-2025 period having been completed.

News for external service were renewed, making effective contributions to the Party and State’s external information service work. Linkages with chapters in various localities also became closer.

VUFO actively upheld its key role in the common diplomatic activities of people’s organisations, especially in multilateral people-to-people diplomatic activities.

Regarding the tasks for 2019, Phong said VUFO units will continue their action plans to realise the resolution adopted by the 12th National Party Congress, the Politburo’s Regulation No.272-QD/TW on the unified management of external activities; promote external activities to further deepen friendship with major and neighbouring countries, while strengthening people-to-people friendship with traditional friends and regional countries; and expand ties with new partners.

At the same time, VUFO will also boost its role as a bridge in stepping up exchanges; as well as economic, cultural, and scientific-technological cooperation and humanitarian activities, thus raising mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Asian, African, and Latin American people.

It will help the Vietnamese people’s organisations join multilateral people’s forums; expand ties with partners; study and forecast international affairs and their impacts on Vietnam; address domestic political and socio-economic issues; and make thorough preparations to successfully undertake its role as host of the ASEAN People’s Forum 2020. –VNA